Well I took Mum to see the dementia service doctor yesterday and Dad came too, partly because he sees more of her weeping than I do and partly so they can see that, with his Parkinsonism as well as her Dementia, we really need help YESTERDAY and no more fannying about.
The doctor kept us waiting for an HOUR, during which time the receptionist told us with a wry smile that 'he's always running late, he talks too much!' but that he couldn't be interrupted when he was with a patient (I didn't actually ask her to do so, just said that I was concerned about my Dad being stuck in a plastic chair for all that time).
When we finally got to see the (harassed and flapping) doctor I told him, out of Mum and Dad's hearing, that it really wasn't acceptable keeping people of their age and conditions waiting all that time. He did apologise again but so what? Then he sat down and started reading Mum's notes - ah preparation! So to save time and my sanity I gave him a synopsis of things over the last 8 months and explained that I wasn't going to accept any more delays and that we needed some medication pronto. I asked about Fluoxetine but apparently it's not compatible with her other meds so he started her on Mirtazapine, warning us of possible side effects including weight gain from increased appetite and sleepiness.
During our appointment he left the room not once but TWICE after the receptionist (a different one) waved at him frantically through the window. So much for not interrupting him when he's with a patient!!!
Seriously if it weren't for the fact that I knew it would have upset Mum he'd have been on the business end of a Susannah Paddy which ain't a pretty sight.
Anyway she took the first tablet last night, she'll be on a low dose for 3 days then move up to the higher dose. Obviously I wasn't expecting it to work straight away and she was very weepy when she got up BUT she was sound asleep until midday! Dad did say that they went to bed a little later than usual, 11pm, but that she'd also dozed off for 2 hours in the evening.
Despite it being almost lunch time she insisted on having breakfast and, because she eats so slowly these days, was still finishing her porridge at 1.30!
Has anyone got experience of Mirtazapine and did the sleepiness improve over time? Mum and Dad's quality of life is not great at the moment because she's so reluctant to go anywhere and it's not going to improve if she spends most of the day asleep!